Crawler tractor



C. A. HENNEUSE Feb. 19, 1935.

GRAWLER TRACTOR Filed March 18, 195o s sheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 19, 1935. c. A. Hr-:NNEUsE CRAWLER TRACTOR Filed March 1s, '1930 3 Shreets-Shqet 2 INVENToR. (/arefzce .Henneuse n ll ATTORNEYS Feb. 19, 1935.

c. A. HENNEUSE CRAWLER TRACTOR v Filed March 18, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 2. m l o .vh a Mm mm mm am m INVENTOR. Klaren ce A. f/e/nzzeue M ci @s Patented Feb. 19, 1935 CRAWLER PATENT osi'lcls:d

TRACTOR y Y Clarence A. Henneuse,l Bucyrus, Ohio Y Application March 1s, 1930, serial 10.436512 Claims.v

This invention, relating as indicated to crawler tread for tractors, has specific reference'to improvements in the construction of the endless track common to such tractors and'also toV im- 5 provements in the means whereby such tread is supported and driven.

In order to insure eicient operation of a crawler tread it is essential that the entire unit on which such tread is mounted be pivotedlon the axle of the tractor so that the tread unitV may independently adapt itself tothe inequalitiesof the ground over which the tractor passes. A further feature of construction* which is highlydesirable in mechanisms of this character is that the drive s be located at the center of the crawler unitfor the reasons hereinafter more fully explained.

In order to insure a minimum amount of wear on the various parts of the crawler mechanism, especially the pinswhich support and 'interconnect various links in the crawler tread chain-it `is essential that no portion of the chainbe under tension regardlessof the amount of powertransmitted by the driving sprocket. If maladjustment of the iiexible track with respect to the'driving pinion is permitted to occur, that is, if a portion of the chain as it encircles-the crawlerl mechanism is placed under tension, not all of thedriving force of the sprocket will be on that portion of the 1 track which is in contact with the ground. By maintaining driving contact betweenthe driving sprocket and only that portion of the chain Which is in contact with the ground the balance of the crawler mechanism will be free from internal' stresses which would curtail the efliciency of the track-laying unit.V The crawler tread unit must therefore be provided with means whereby proper adjustment `of the track with respect tothe driving sprocket may beY attained so that the truck 4'0 chain may travelwith a maximum of freedom, re-

sulting in anappreciable increase .in the life of the various wearing parts. l

In connection with the unusually heavy strains to which the tread bearing chainV is placed as the tractor'is propelled over'theground, considerable vdifficulty has heretofore been experienced in the construction of the links comprising this chain sothat such links would properly transmit the load from the sprocket to the ground without causing a premature Wear on the pins connecting the adjacentlinks. In order to insure maximum life'v to the pins connecting the links of the tread chain `it is essential that the Vmain load of the tractor be carried'through the links and transmitted to the, ground withoutplacing the connecting pins under any direct stress".

erable eiiiciency thereof When the tractor is called upon to traverse relatively soft Yground the tread bearing chain should be so constructed that aconcave deflection thereof in that portion which is next to the ground'be prevented so as to prevent a substantially rigid 5 section of the chain to the soft earth. A chain so constructed must have the links capable of convex movementas the chain passes over the idler elements andthe driving sprocket. y

Tractors equipped with crawler treads are usually employed under conditions where a considerable amount of loose dirt is present, which dirt, unless prevented, will work its Way into the moving parts of the mechanism and cutdown theV opas well as effect a premature Wear. l

1 It is among the objects of my invention to provide a crawler tread construction, adaptable to be used with tractors, which shall have. all `of the above mentioned desirable features. Other objects of my invention willappearas the description proceeds. i i To the'accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claimsthe annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism` embodying theinvention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used. In said annexed'drawings:- Fig. 1 is a side elevation', which is part sectional',` of the mechanism comprising my invention; Fig. 2v is yan Yend Yelevation of the mechanism showing the tread-bearing'chain removed; Fig. 3 is a.

transverse sectional view of the mechanism illus- .tratedin Fig. 1 taken on the. plane substantially moreespecially to Fig. 1 and other iigures where"V 50 like numerals are employed to designate like parts, the mechanism comprising my invention consists of Va driving sprocket l and idler wheels 2 and 3, which sprocket and idlers are supported by a frame 4. A track 5 surrounds the sprocket and idler wheels so as to present a longitudinal section 6 thereof to the ground over Which the tractor passes in the manner vcommon to this form of tread construction. The frame 4 has a shield 7 secured thereto by means of bolts 8, and depending therefrom, which shield is adapted to exclude dirt and like foreign substances from the operating mechanism comprising the tread unit. The sprocket Wheel 1 has the interior of its hub 9 formed Withlongitudinal serrations ladapted to engage thesplined endglO 'ofj'an Aaxle.;11'. The axle 11, which may be the axle of any common type of tractor, not shown, has its inner endl-i 12 splined to receive a pinion common toalldifferential mechanisms and is encompassed by-'anm axle housing 13. VThe axle housing 1.3h-asf-gpoga sitioned therein oppositely disposed bear and 15 which are removablysecured-the means of an annular retaining memberflWln-ichf. is secured to the axle housing by means of bolts 17'.; The.:A axle 11 hasy acircumferenti'al .flange or ring..- 1.8 projecting. therefrom ,fwhichiis engageslf.vv the bearings...14. and15 tosecuresucnaxle. against: axial. movement withV respect-to its;l1o.us;.4 ing Positioned..intermediately offthe. hubV .9 of* f the sprocket land thesecuringmember 516i-is an. annular ringflvvhich secures the .greasef-retains. ing and ldust-.excluding packing.; ring 2li.` Posif tioned intermediately` of the 'circumferential' l flange :211 of the member 16 andthe terminal portiong22of thev axlelhousingliis a shimbody 23 if, by means', .of which.V axial. .adjustment .of vthe sev curi-ng .member 16 may.=.:be obtainedv when; the bolts.17 are tightened down..l This axialadjustfz ment. .makespossible the; proper ,locationrof the bearings 14 and 15 With respect to the flange 1821 As: most clearly shown =in Figs..3 .and,,4, the innert tread frame 24 .has integrally formedtnere-sw jection .25'. whiehencom'passesthesterminal por.- tion221of Athe .housing x13. Arflat Yband 2.6zis .posi-f. tioned between the inner periphery. fofethefcup z-'andithe outer-periphery .ofi-the terminal por tion 2210i -the.housing,- Whichband ,serves-'asa grease g retaining.r and `dust vexcluding means -fern protecting. the. bearings f mounted i on, .'theushaftz fromiforeign. materials whichfaretever presenta in. this area during the operationof. the tractor.. Thev frame member 4 revolubly.supportsthatere minal.. .portion 2710i. :the .hub v9 Y by. means.Y of. fries:- tion .reducing bearings 28. whichl lare secured ina' place by means of-axnut=29.threadably engaginglthereducedend 30 oftheaxle 11. Thebearings 28 ;.is.` protected against. dust` and dirt by..

place byboltsv 32, also. a .packing ring `Stiand flanged fannula'r membervx34': Whicharespectively encompasses the khub 9 of the .sprocketfxwheielI '1.

Adjustably secured in the terminal-:portion ofthe iside --frames `4 and 24 are pinsA 35.-' which are terminally engaged'by eyebolts- 36 securecl therento by nuts 372 'Ihefeyeboltsy 36 pass through theends `38 of Vthe s ideframes4and 24gand areyaxially adjustably secured by locknuts 39.v VThe pins have mountedthsreon frciionireduiiie bear-- ings @which revolublysupport hubs 41 .Ofythg idler Wheel generally indicated at 42,1 The,.be21'f ings` ,are separated. by an annular. member -43 andere axiallvfrestrainedatftheir'outerendslby.. annularyrings.- .44.1 The. rings '44..arlee secured, in place byflanged cups 45 whichencompassgreaseretaining jand dust-excluding.; ringsA 46. Posif.. tLOnedcoaxiallyl .with lthe grease-:retaining rings:

4.6 are relatively; Smalllplferably metallic.- rings g 47 which serve as a securing means for these grease rings.

The endless web or track 5 is' made up of a plurality of links most clearly shown in Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive. The links .forming the elements 5 of the track 5 have vertically extending side bars 48 and 49 which have integrally formed there- With along their loweredges laterally extending flanges 50 and 51 which are'rinterconnected byV Webs 51'. :Thelsidemembers-and @have one 'longy of l .their ends formed, intolon'gitudinally extending arms 52 and 53 which are terminally united )e5/a crossbar 54. The side members 48V and 49 d Y have apertures 55 formed therein which are adaptedtosecure the body of a pin 56, by means 1,5 A Y 91....which L adjacentY links are interconnected. 1

Apertures V57 Yare formed in the members 52 and? Y n75251; whichfaperturesare of a size adapted to rel, ,ceive.bushings 58 coaxially mounted with the 'connecting pins 56.

This construction permits 20y free;oscillation;off-lone link- .withfrespecti tof-its adiacefll:.linksl the: track` travels. around -thefy severalslwlieelsf,

A Thefmemb- 4, which .is the. terminalA pror.-v Y

tion)ofctlieproieetingarms;'52 and v5.3, is adapted-,2e to engage the rollers 59, Whichaar-ecoaxially, mountedgwitlfitheconnectingpins-56, and this g 1 l engagame. was; most; clearly shown in Fig. 5.,.; prevents-aconcaye-.deection of the portion-6 ogthetrack@ whichis infcontact-with theground; 3g

over-fvvhihftheztractorpasses. Secured to'. the

` laterally.- pmiectinsffflaneeS-f'50 andi-51 by. means ois frivetsf'ersftladv 51108516 1?; ,Whh ,have ltheir-.1. terminal Jportions 16,2-.and (i3-so formedthat the adiacente shoese inf ovenlyins. relationship- .so 3c.: as to present acloseditraek.- to.the-grourid.y

d `al-suigtaces.66andl. The sprocketlugs 40g 65, he gthe;.track-is-,mounted on the-sprocketVV Wheel-.- lieintermediately of: the side .members- 48 and495of -theftread'links, .andv .engage ther rollers 59;;.and the cylindrical .surfaces66and67,. re.-V spectively, .engage-the surfaces ,-68 l and 569,4 45S offthemember sr48;and:49,I The pins 56 are maintanedflin; lie-,above described assembled relation., y bvitmeansl. themes-71:

The dler Wheels Zand. S-are formed.. offlaterfalla-:disposed:spiders 72 .s111133 {Which-are spacedY apart 4surcientlv ,to .Qverlie the sprocket-Wheel. .1, A The outerfperipheriesfoffthe Ywebs 72 and aree.; formed with y circumferentiallygroved facesv 74- and '7.5 whichzenease the portions v'ofof .thenex-t adjanmread-nnkwhich; itwiube noted,- cor: Mg; n

respond-1to1.sidemembers 48'and-49.

The v.operableprinciples which .distinguish constructiomfromthose now commonly employed and ,whichimakethis'.construction-desirable from.

the standpoint lofefiiiency, aswell Yas 'the/1on1 i 1 gevity of the various operative parts will-now beibrieyidescribed; Theoverlying relationship of.1 .the Ldriving sprocketgwith respect toV the idlerv wheels; makes; possible' a. relationship between.- Y' f they variousv ,parts which isl desirable, due to' the .1655 factutnat .a-,compaet structure cane bev obtained having. features adding Vto the refficiency .Of they n tracknot found in any of; the present forms' of treadconstruction'-- B yff so arranging the idlers-Y lareeifdiametermay be -errirloyeii*While-StilI-IrieinfA taining a- `relatively short -distane between'v the;r

axes of rotation o f; thevariousuwheels.- This'rer--v' Y bolts 36, is such that longitudinaladjustment of Y the idlers 2 and 3 with respect to thesprocket l can be obtained so that during the operation of the track no part thereof will be in tension. By properly adjusting the idlers 2 and 3 with respect to the sprocket 1 the movement of the chain around the several wheels can be so controlled that the driving force is transmitted from the sprocket to the chain only at that point at which the track is Vin contact with the ground. This feature is especially desirable in that the efciency of the mechanism is increased, due to the fact that thereare no internal stresses in the chain which detract from the driving power thereof, and also when the chain is permitted to freely rotate about the wheels the connecting pins which connect the various links are free from tension which usually results in premature Wear of these parts. Y

The construction. of the periphery of the sprocket wheel and the tread links presents features having desirable qualities notA found in any of the present forms of construction. shoulders 66 and 67 which vbear directly upon the standards 48 and 49 of the tread shoes `transmit the entire weight of the tractor to the ground without placing the pins which connect the shoes under tension. The sole function required of the pins therefore is to maintain connection between the respective links comprising the chain and to receive the driving torque from the sprocket wheel. The driving torque from the sprocket wheel is transmitted to the pins connecting the links through the lugs 65 which contact with rollers mounted on bushings on the connecting pins. The rollers 59, being so mounted, are free to rotate with the leastamount of frictional resistance, thereby reducing the wear on the several parts and also decreasing the power lost in the track itself.

The construction of the links comprising the track as outlined in connection with the description of Fig. 5 is such that a concave deflection thereof is prevented when the track is in contact with the ground. This construction permits the tractor to travel over surfaces which are relatively soft and which offer insecured support to the tractor tread. The members 54 which prevent such concave deflection contact with the rollers 59 on the connecting pins, whichv rollers,

being mounted on bushings and free to rotate, carry the load incidental to this restriction of The which are relatively uneven it is essential that the crawler units, as such, may freely rotate y about a single axis. VThis freedom of rotation of the entire unit is accomplished by the mounting which is most clearly shown in Fig. 3. With this construction it is possible for the entire unit to oscillate with respect-to the body of the tractor as the tractor passes over uneven ground and at the same time ample means is provided to carry the end thrust as Well as the radial load on the amej Y Further descriptionof my invention is deemed unnecessary for those acquainted with `the art.

Suiiice it to say that for the purposes of this description only so much has been described as is believed to be essential to the operation of the mechanism. ,i l

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point vout and distinctly claim as my invention1 l. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a frame adapted to be oscillatably mounted on an axle housing, a toothed driven sprocket wheel mounted on the axle projecting from said housing andY provided withVV cylindrical surfaces adapted to engage rail vfaces formed by elements carried on links composing a track; two idler wheels, one mounted at each end of said frame in overlapping relation with said sprocket wheel and each provided with cylindrical surfaces, said idler wheels being so mounted that the cylindrical surfaces thereof and the cylindrical surface on the sprocket wheel are substantially tangent to the same plane and a continuous track composed of links, joined together by pins, which are adapted to be engaged by the teeth on said sprocket wheel, and each carrying rail faces adapted in combination in said track to form runways for the cylindrical surface of the sprocket wheel and the cylindrical surfaces of the idler wheels.

2. A crawler-track link having male and female portions, comprising two laterally spaced longitudinally extending members, in the main Aparallel throughout but so oppositely offset intermediate their ends, that the distance between them at one end is greater than the distance between their outside faces at the other end, and

havingv on each side of said offset in each member apertures, transversely aligned, whereby the link may be pinned to adjacent links; parts on the lower portions of said members adapted to support a grouser; a cross-tie between the terminals of the more closely spaced ends of the said members; and railsurfaces on the upper edges of said members, portions of said surfaces beingV over the female portions of the link and adapted to support the periphery of a Wheel, and other portions of said surfaces beingv over the male portion of the link and adapted to support the periphery of a wheel overlapping vsaid first mentioned wheel.

CLARENCE A. HENNEUSE. 

